Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy, said that rising poverty and hunger are pushing Nigeria toward instability [1].
The warning comes as the country faces a volatile combination of economic hardship and insecurity, which could undermine the democratic process. If left unaddressed, these conditions may erode public confidence in the state's ability to govern effectively.
Utomi said that a dangerous mix of hunger, poverty, and insecurity is threatening the nation's stability [1]. He said that this environment is compounded by a decline in the quality of public institutions, and a waning sense of confidence among citizens in government bodies [2].
This institutional decay, combined with widespread hardship, creates a precarious social climate. Utomi said that citizens should resist the erosion of democratic values as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections [3].
The professor said that the risk of instability is not merely economic but structural. He said that the current trajectory threatens the foundational stability of the Nigerian state [1].
According to Utomi, the intersection of insecurity and poverty creates a vulnerability that could be exploited. He said that there must be a renewed commitment to safeguarding democratic principles to prevent further decline [3].
As the 2027 [3] election cycle approaches, the pressure on government institutions to restore public trust remains high. Utomi said that the current state of public confidence is a critical indicator of the country's future stability [2].
“Rising poverty and hunger are pushing Nigeria toward instability.”
The warning from a political economy expert suggests that Nigeria is facing a 'polycrisis' where economic failure and institutional weakness reinforce one another. By linking hunger and poverty directly to the risk of instability before the 2027 elections, Utomi is signaling that the socio-economic climate may become a primary driver of political volatility, potentially outweighing traditional partisan competition.
